In a World Wind

"When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf!

Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth." (Genesis 8:11)

Turmoil and life’s difficulties can leave the soul with unrest.

We wonder if restoration will arrive. We debate ourselves and find that sin is at the root of the troubles in this world.

We’ve entertain it. We adjust and make sin comfortable. We twist the Word of God to make it what we want it to say.

Our justification leads us down a road of trouble.

But, Noah was a man who was found righteous in the eyes of God.

He heard God’s direction and though it seemed ridiculous he followed through. He believed God.

In this fallen world sometimes, we are the dreamer with interruptions assailing at us. The vision was given but the realities seem to escape us.

So many days and weeks in the flooded waters.

I know I heard God.

As he waits and waits I wonder did his heart grow weary or stronger?

When we wait on the Lord, do we grow tired or does our faith increase?

“When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.” (Genesis 8:11)

The preservation of the seed is remarkable!

Turmoil, flooding, shifting and the conditions of the earth God made were shaken. But the seed survived, preserved!

Noah did not plant the seed. The dove came to him with an olive leaf. Extraordinary event!

This gives me hope!

When life has been shaken like a world-wind tornado, where is the hope?

The hope does not depend on me. The hope comes from God. I am to rely on HIM!

So, like the dove sent out by Noah, I pour out my heart to the Lord. I wait on the One who preserves the seed!

God who created everything along with the Son and the Spirit hears, sees and preserves.

The Initiator of the vision is the one who makes it come to pass.

Don’t give up even though the waters are rising!

Don’t loose the vision because it was the Lord who spoke it!

Watch and pray! It is coming.

Remain faithful for God is the Promise Keeper!

God bless you!~Liz

Was Blind But Now I See

" “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16)

When babies are born their eyes don't have the ability to fully focus. Their eyes are developing.

"Babies learn to see over a period of time, much like they learn to walk and talk. They are not born with all the visual abilities they need in life. The ability to focus their eyes, move them accurately, and use them together as a team must be learned. Also, they need to learn how to use the visual information the eyes send to their brain in order to understand the world around them and interact with it appropriately." (aoa.org)

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (Genesis 3:6-7)

Adam and Eve's were not ready to have their eyes opened via disobedience. Their forced eye sight was more than images that had to be interpreted by the brain. Their souls were exposed. Their spirit died. Their transgression delivered death. (Ephesians 2:1)

They sewed figs leaves together to hide what their eyes were seeing. Where once there was no shame, their new gained sight brought some new visitors; more like enemies! Shame had now made itself at home. Disobedience lead to death.

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44a)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

When God opens our eyes the dead come to life. We are born again and able to readjust our sight to see life and interrupt life through a new set of "lenses". Our relationship with the Father is restored. Eternity becomes a focal point.

A submitted vessel surrenders all to the Lord. He has all we need to live, he makes provision and leads us to overcome evil.

In the story of Elisha we see trouble surrounding Israel. The king of Aram had encircled Elisha and his servant.

When we wait on God he is able to "open our eyes" to see the unseen.

The serpent promised Eve that she could be like God and what was delivered was death.

God desires obedience and He delivers life.

" “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16)

“And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." 

(2 Kings 6:16-17)

If you are unfamiliar with the story of Elisha. Here we see Elisha, a prophet, but a man none the less. This is not a superhero. This is one called by God and he obeyed!

In the middle of this war, God opened his eyes to see in the spiritual realm what God was doing.

Obedience always leads to life!

When the serpent deceived Eve he showed her a peek into the spiritual realm. Death was waiting and indeed greeted her and Adam just as the Lord had spoken. In addition, their authority to rule over all God had created was now up for grabs.

When the Lord intervenes in the lives of men and we obey he delivers the truth. We get a front row seat of what is happening. He gives us understanding and wisdom.

" “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

The vision assured them of the unseen realities all around them.

Praise the Lord!

So what do we want? Should our eyes be opened prematurely? Should we listen to the lures of the devil who is aware of the spiritual realm but wants us dead?

It is wise to seek the Lord who can open our eyes to life! There is something happening in the unseen. For the believer, God goes before us. He speaks and reveals to us his plan, is provision and protection as in the testimony of Elisha.

There is a warning in the Scriptures, DO NOT get involved in witchcraft, sorcery, those how want to reveal our future to us. The serpent lured Eve and she received exactly what God has already spoken--death. "For rebellion is like the sin of divination and arrogance like the evil of idolatry." (1 Samuel 15:23)

God is merciful. The covering that Adam and Eve made for themselves out of fig leaves was inadequate. "Jehovah God made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21 )

The coats of skin, a foreshadow of the cost it would take to cover the sins of the world. Blood was required. Someone had to die.

Disobedience has an effect and an action that is required.

Someone sins – Someone has to die. The law required blood.

Christ offered himself –the Lamb of God to bring restoration and right relationship with us and himself.

Obedience…sometimes is seems difficult but really to do otherwise brings destruction.

God loves us!

God bless you!~Liz

Reject or Inflict

They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place

of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.

There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” (John 19:17-22, NASB)

Is he King to you?

When confronted with the Truth what is our answer?

For a while I did not believe. God’s mercy and patience sought me and rescued me from sin.

We can reject or inflict.

If we reject him there is nothing else that can rescue us.

Not my good works, not my money, not my name.

There is only ONE that saves! (Acts 4:12)

If we accept him who has come into the world, we are released from out debt of sin and we inflict damage to the kingdom of darkness. Darkness will no longer have authority over us.

I bow the knee. I repent and Hail Him King of the Jews and King of Liz!

God bless you!~Liz

How many stamps am I worth?

Memories are a funny thing.

I’ve been awake for about an hour and just like that something triggered and brought to life these hidden gems, even made me smile.

When I was a little girl living in the Bronx, I remember walking the streets under the raised train tracks. I can still hear the chuck-chuck-chuck rhythm in the background. I never second guessed the noises in the air. It was city life.

Hand in hand with my mom we’d walk to our destination. One hand holding mine and the other in her pea coat pocket with her booklet.

There was this Redemption Center that we would go to. We’d browse the front window and then walk inside. Based on how many stamps my mom accumulated; this determined the item we could take home.

But what if we were missing a stamp?

Redemption is “the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt.”

It was a lot of work to own anything on the window display in exchange for the stamps we collected. In never really amounted to anything big. The prize always seemed out of reach.

What if the item or object is unattainable? What if my booklet is deficient in pages or the stamps that I collect are not enough?

The Bible tells a story of this exact thing.

Often sin is spoken as something someone else is doing. It’s the evil we see on TV. It’s the criminal that often repeats the offenses. Even a child is taught to share otherwise they grow up selfish. But, what happens when we grow up and are now mature?

Are we now exempt? We’ve learned right from wrong. We’ve arrived. Right?

Somewhere in our walk we have forgotten that the smallest of wrongs have accumulated. They have joined together to taint our behavior, actions and even our outlook on life. We have become familiar with the “noises of the world” that they don’t even affect us anymore. At least we don’t think so.

Let’s go down memory lane again.

Magilla Gorilla, do you know who he is?

He spent a lot of time in a window hoping someone would redeem him; purchase him, love him and take him home.

The jingle went like this, “Gorilla for sale. Take our advice, at any price, a gorilla like Magilla is mighty nice. Gorilla, Magilla Gorilla for sale!”

I remember thinking, poor gorilla. No one wants him.

Sometimes we feel like that poor creature. Here I am! Someone, love me.

We want to be loved and cared for. We feel the wrongs of yesterday have taken something form us. Perhaps we are right.

Yet, there is a Redeemer that is quite familiar with all that we have done; all that we have lost.

The loss is his.

He longs to bring us home.

His walk has been long. He has paid the price for the one he yearns for, you & I.

You see, I have gone to the redemption center and brought out my booklet.

I have a stamp for obeying my mom. I did all my homework. I did not steal the gum from the corner store. Oh, I did lie to my dad about that thing he said I should not do. Can I still redeem my stamps?

The Lord is aware of how many good things we have done. He knows we desire to do what is right but sometimes fail.

Who will redeem us? Was this not the cry of poor Magilla Gorilla?

Jesus will walk the road,” With shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 2So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. (Luke 23:23-25)

“Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. (Matthew 27:26)

Jesus is aware of all my sin. Yes, the things that I have done. And, he still loves me. He is the only one who has what it takes to redeem my life. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 11:22b)

Who will take this little girl home?

“And I was included in Christ when I heard the message of truth, the gospel of my salvation. When I believed, I was marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing my inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14)  

It's personal.

The Redeemer said I am worth it! My debt was cleared. He said he would take me home.

Jerome Avenue in the Bronx, the Redemption Center.

The treasure was not always what was in the window. The prize is the great memory of being with my mom. Walking hand in hand. Secure &. loved.

He did it once and for all.

I got my new song to sing....I am redeemed...you set me free......

God bless you!~Liz

Mary or Martha

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

Hey, Jesus is coming over today!

What would be the first thing we would do?

Hmmm, perhaps clean the bathroom. Touch up the living room. Make sure there is something to eat. Oh, did you run the dishwasher? Pick up your dirty socks from the floor! 

Oh, no the guest room looks like a storage bin!!!

The very familiar story of Mary and Martha. Martha often is seen as the “busy Martha”, so worried about the “house” when Jesus was visiting.

According to the Lord’s comment, “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42) Indeed she was preoccupied with other responsibilities.

I wondered what she was worried about?  What had her upset?  Was it just the housework?  Maybe the status of her heart was on shaky ground.  Questions about life?

Let's not be unfair. We have all been there. I’m not justifying that keeping busy doing “housework” is more important than sitting at the feet of Jesus. Perhaps there were troubles or doubt about her own soul?

I’d like to say that after the Lord’s rebuke and revelation, I believe that Martha’s heart and outlook changed.

Follow me….

When Lazarus dies who is it that runs to meet Jesus?

Was is Mary? No.

“When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.” (John 11:20) 

Mary stayed, and Martha runs quickly to meet the Lord. Martha says, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” (John 11:21) 

Here we see her faith.

I don’t believe that Mary was now preoccupied with other responsibilities, but both have now seen Jesus as their Master. Something deep inside has changed for both.

Martha’s heart has been touched by the Lord.

Martha may have been rebuked but she quickly learns “what is better”.

We all have been Martha. We may be Martha right now. The lesson is to hear the voice of the Lord. To anchor to the direction he is pointing us to. He is the Way to Life! He knows our preoccupations and how easily distracted we get.

We can’t make excuses for our neglect; our disregard what the Master is teaching us. We must realign ourselves to what is right.

Sometimes we neglect to read the Word of God; guilty! When opportunities arise to share the Gospel, we might shrink back; guilty! Sunday mornings seem to be the best time to sleep and we want to stay home. The distractions of life are obstacles. They try to stop the transformation the Lord is working out in us.

Jesus says to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

Wow, do you believe?

Martha replies, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (John 11:27)

Way to go Martha!! God is so patient with us.

The Lord is Messiah. He is the promised One. 

He takes the dead and causes it to live. 

Dreams, situations and circumstances that speak dissolution and strife; he turns them around. 

He hears when we call for help. He knows our weakness and yet he continues to pursue us. 

He knows our need for him and he waits in hope that we respond to his love. 

He gives us many opportunities to come and sit with him. He wants to lavish us with his love!

So, what shall we do today?

Have the dishes called to you? The dust is overwhelming! The dirty clothes have consumed me. Distractions, interruptions, commotions, and on and on.

PUT THEM ASIDE.

Sit at the feet of Jesus today.

He can raise the dead to life; He is the Resurrection and the life!

Let’s choose what is better, it will not be taken away from us! (Luke 10:42)

The housework will get done.  He quiets the anxieties of life.

When we have been filled and refreshed by the Word of the Lord, the rest of life becomes easier.

Thank you Martha & Mary!

Thank you Lord!

God bless you!~Liz

Praise Weapon

Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger. (Psalm 8:2 a)

When I think about an infant, the freshness of this little life, it is their cry that is so fascinating. It calls to our attention to respond. Is he or she wet, are they tired, or hungry? Are they praising God?

The Psalmist here points out the praise. How can an infant praise God? I love the reminder that we have all been created to worship God. Why not the infant?

The Psalmist is speaking of establishing praise. The writer here expresses that children and infants praise God and with it establish a stronghold against the enemy!

My intellect tells me that praise must be formulated. Praise must somehow be a strategic time consuming plan. But the Spirit of God says otherwise. He reminds us that we follow the leading of His Spirit!

Let’s remember David a young boy reaching in his bag; grabbing a tiny stone and fling it to the enemy of Israel!

Praise is a weapon!

Praise is not just a song. It’s an action. It aligns itself with the Lord. It’s an expression of the splendor of our God within us; our love for Him! It involves and invokes all that I am; my voice, my hands, my feet and my bag of stones.

“David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26)

“David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” (1 Samuel 17:32)

“Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” (1 Samuel 17:33)

Israel had an army. Their plans were in place but the enemy was still taunting them. Here comes a child with words that will produce action and silence the enemy.

“David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:46)

"Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger." (Psalm 8:2)

This little creature wrapped in flesh that reflects its Maker has sound, a cry, a way to communicate with his Creator.

Recently I have been watching a program about a girl that is deaf. It has been fascinating to see how she communicates.

The Lord has made it so that we can indeed connect with him. Even in silence he knows what’s in our hearts and makes Himself known.

The Scriptures say, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)  He makes Himself known!

He desires us. He wants to communicate with you and me. We’ve been made to share, to translate what God has built inside of us to explore the riches of His Goodness; to enjoy Him Forever!

When the infant cries is it not a sweet sound? So, tiny and precious, made in all perfection −all we want is to come to his/her rescue.

You’ve ever watch a baby sleep and they are smiling. Have you heard them in the middle of the night just making silly noises; it causes our hearts to melt.

We all have the ability to communicate with our Maker.  That's how he made us!

Oh, come let us sing for joy to the God of our Salvation! (Psalm 95:1)

Parents train up a child in the instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).

Start them early in the way they should go. (Proverbs 22:6)

Let’s share with the little one, the works and mighty acts of the Lord. (Psalm 145:4)

Infants and children are a weapon in the hands of the Lord!

Today, let’s take this weapon of Praise and launch the assault. “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty”. (1 Samuel 17:47a)

Whether we are one or 100....let everything that has breath...PRAISE THE LORD!

From one generation to another.  Let's praise fill the air!

God bless you!~Liz

The Fob

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in

heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)

How convenient is life getting?

In the days of old if you carried a lot keys on a keyring you were mockingly called a “super” or a superintendent; one who maintains a building with tenants. This job required 24-hour monitoring. If something broke, heat failed or pipes burst the superintendent quickly came to the rescue. See, he had the keys to all the apartments, to the furnace room and if you lived in the Bronx, he also had the key that opened the roof exit door. Hence, he carried all the keys that amounted to quite some weight on his belt.

Nowadays we barely use keys. At least not the old fashioned brass or nickel keys that jingled.

When I leave my house I walk right up to my car and the door opens automatically. My key is now called a fob and it authorizes and identifies me as the owner.

I arrive at church and likewise my access is granted via a fob.

This easy access caused me to think today. My battery is dying on my car fob. I realized that this easy access has become so “normal” for me that I forgot that these fobs are just another way to gain access. Convenient yes, but nevertheless a key.

I expect to swipe my fob and immediately get access. I have even become impatient if my first swipe doesn’t open the door. Keys are a privilege and should not be taken for granted.

In the Book of Matthew, Jesus asks his disciples,
“Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (v.13)

He further asks, “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (v.15-16)

"Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; 

whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, 

and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
”Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah." 

(John 16:17-20)

Access by the One who can give authority, the One who holds the KEYS has been granted to Peter, to the disciples and actually to all believers.

Jesus made it clear that the Kingdom of Heaven was present. He gave many proofs, even miraculous healing so that the “crowd” would see the Father. 

 He wanted to exhibit his Love for the World. He loved the Jew, the Samaritan, the wealthy, the healthy, the cripple and even the thief on the cross. 

Jesus holds the Key to life and death. 

 He is the access, the door, the way, the truth and the life. (John 12:6)

He offers the keys to us and beckons to do likewise. 

Share it, live it, make it beautifully contagious. 

 Preach the gospel to all creation. (Mark 16:15)

When I arrive home, I press a few digits and once again I have access to my home.

Keys give access. But, like my experience today, let’s not get so comfortable that we forget the access given in the name of convenience is still is key, still unlocking closed doors and granting access.

Like the superintendent Jesus has access, ACCESS TO ALL. 

He can fix the broken, give us access to the Father and quickly come to our rescue when we call him. He is the Authority and we have the privilege to identify ourselves with him.

If you have placed your trust in the Lord Jesus and know what it is to be forgiven and set free, share it today! If you don’t know the Love of God, Jesus who laid down his life for all to have access to the Father, call on him today. He is the life-giver, the Key to Salvation!

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me. (John 14:6)

JESUS IS THE KEY.

My car key fob is a square little piece of plastic. What I did not know and quickly learned is that inside this plastic tool is an actual key. A small key that can eject out of the fob in the event the battery dies.

Ok, we are back to the key. One access - one way!

God bless you!~Liz